Method and means for exercising hand and wrist muscles

ABSTRACT

A means and method for exercising particularly hand, wrist, and lower forearm muscles and tendons as a preventive measure against overstressing the muscles and tendons leading to possible carpal tunnel syndrome. A specific exercise device consisting basically of a rod with two cushiony hand grips is disclosed to enable the user to practice the exercise method.

[0001] This invention relates to a means and method for exercising hand, wrist and other muscles, tendons and ligaments in the forearms, upper arms, shoulders and neck of an individual for the purpose of stretching same at regular intervals as a preventive measure to lessen chances of injury, including carpal tunnel syndrome, due to repetitive and persistent overstress on said hand and wrist muscles in particular.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] It is generally recognized that there are many individuals in the modem day workplace, particularly those who spend many hours a day working on a computer keyboard or the like, who suffer from painful stress in their wrists due to the persistent and repetitive nature of such type of work. In the extreme, a significant number of individuals are diagnosed as having contracted carpal tunnel syndrome which occurs when their wrists are exposed to persistent and repetitive strain, causing the tissue surrounding the tendons to become so enlarged that they compress the median nerve which runs through the carpal tunnel, a passage in the wrist. It is generally recognized that carpal tunnel syndrome can cause reduced muscle control; impaired or lost nervous function; diminished grip strength or numbness, tingling and pain; and reduced inability to grasp and manipulate objects within the hand.

[0003] Much attention has been devoted to treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome after the condition has severely advanced.

[0004] Suggested preventive measures to reduce incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome seem to primarily emphasize the desirability of ergonomically modifying workstations coupled with somewhat non-specific and general recommendations of becoming involved in health and fitness programs which, by their nature, involve various and sundry types of bodily exercise. Many of the exercises are done on or performed in connection with different sundry types of exercise equipment.

[0005] However, to the best of my knowledge, neither the means nor the stretching method of exercise which is the subject of this invention has heretofore been used or suggested in the workplace.

[0006] The primary object of my invention is to provide a novel means, consisting basically of a short rod with spaced apart hand grips which can be manually manipulated in a manner so as to stretch virtually almost all of the muscles and tendons in the wrists and forearms so as to regularly and periodically relieve and reduce the stress build-up in the areas where carpal tunnel syndrome may occur.

[0007] An object and advantage of my invention is that the exercise may be regularly performed by a user while seated or standing at his workstation if he or she so chooses. The rod type structure with the hand grips is very compact, measuring in its preferred embodiment about 10 inches long and around 1¼-2″ maximum diameter so that the device can be neatly stored in an ordinary desk drawer for immediate and convenient use when it becomes timely for the user to perform the exercise. The rod with hand grips can be made and sold very inexpensively and used over and over for an indefinite time without repair or replacement.

[0008] Because the exercise can be performed at desired intervals throughout the day at the workstation location, coupled with the fact that a full exercise cycle can be performed in a fraction of a minute, there is virtually no loss of productive work time. To the contrary, the fact that the muscles of the wrists and forearms, in particular, are kept stretched, relaxed, and in a substantially non-stressed situation throughout the day can only lead to higher production over a six to eight hour shift.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Referring to the drawings:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercise rod with spaced-apart hand grips.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a view of either end of the device shown in FIG. 1.

[0013]FIGS. 5A, 6A and 7A are front elevational views depicting a user performing the exercise method with the exercise rod, and showing four different positions of the user's hands, wrists, forearms, elbows and upper arms during the exercise.

[0014]FIGS. 4B, 5B, 6B and 7B show in side elevation a user performing the same exercise and the same four positions as above set forth.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Details of the Invention

[0016] Referring now more specifically to the drawings, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show a rod indicated generally at A which is provided with two spaced-apart hand grips indicated generally at B and C, respectively.

[0017] The rod A is shown as circular in cross-section and in the practical and preferred embodiment would measure in the range of 1¼-2″ diameter and in the neighborhood of 10″ long. Preferably, the rod is made of a substantially rigid and non-flexible material such as wood, plastic or hollow lightweight metal. Preferably, the overall weight of the combined rod and hand grips B and C is kept to a minimum for purposes of convenient carrying, handling and storage.

[0018] The identically formed hand grips A and B can be formed by cutting into desired lengths an extruded tubular material such as may be made of a lightweight cushiony material indicated by numeral 1. Although denser elastomeric material such as bicycle handle bar grips would be satisfactory, I prefer that the hand grip material be made of a lighter weight, relatively low density foam plastic, for example . Such a material is very cushiony and soft to the hands, and eliminates virtually entirely any irritation such as blistering or skin irritation that could occur on a more dense and less cushiony material.

[0019] The tubular hand grips B and C are formed with an I.D. calculated to snugly slide over the selected O.D. of the rod A. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, the tubular handles are of a length calculated to accommodate the width of an average user's hand. I have found from an empirical observation that if the rod A is made 10 inches long, each hand grip can be cut and fitted to an overall length of 4 inches, and which arithmetically establishes a ratio of a hand grip being {fraction (4/10)}ths the length of the rod. A 4-inch hand grip, according to my empirical study, appears adequate to accommodate the usually smaller hands of women as well as the usually larger hands of men. There is no necessity that the length of each hand grip exactly equal the width of a user's hand while on the other hand it is important that the elongate rod A has a length at least slightly exceeding two hand widths of any user so that there is room for the user to grasp the rod with both hands in clench-fisted position with his thumbs and all four fingers of each hand.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the tubular hand grips are slipped over and are adhered to opposite ends of the rod with the outer ends of the tubes overhanging slightly the ends to permit insertion and gluing of hard plastic end caps to give a more finished look to the completed product. In the embodiment shown, the rod is made of wood and the cut ends of each of the rods are thereby concealed by an insertion and adhesion of the plastic end caps 2 as above described.

[0021] While the drawings show the rod A being provided with two discrete tubular sections A and B mounted in spaced-apart relation, it is also contemplated that the device can be fabricated with the tubular material extending the full length of the rod or that both the rod and the hand grips could be made by extrusion or otherwise from an integral piece of material. However, whether the device is made with a single tubular strip or formed as an integral unit, the unit would still define two spaced-apart hand grip portions whether or not visually delineated as such.

[0022] The exercise device shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is an essential ingredient in the practice of the method of exercising the hand and wrist muscles according to the invention, and now to be described in detail.

[0023] FIGS. 4A-7B are now specifically referred to in order to illustrate the method embodying the present invention. The exercise is started by the user extending frontally and outwardly to a starting position both of his arms and with the palms of his hands facing upwardly and with the user lightly gripping the hand grips A and B of the exercise tool. FIGS. 4A and 4B show in front and side elevational views, respectively, this starting position.

[0024] From the starting position, the user having closed the fingers of both hands around the hand grips in a close-fisted manual grip, slowly folds his elbows toward and close to his upper body to cause the hands, while gripping the tool, to move proximate to his chin at about shoulder level. FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate this intermediate position.

[0025] From the second position the user while still sustaining his hand grip, moves his hands inwardly toward and downwardly in front of his body by moving his elbows outwardly and upwardly above hand level, and moving the forearms inwardly and downwardly towards the floor. Upon the user reaching position 3 as shown in FIGS. 6A-6B, the user has already accomplished what may be termed as a “minimum stretching position” of the hand, wrist and forearm muscles, ligaments and tendons. The ability of the user to continue to complete the exercise to “maximum stretching ability” will depend on the flexibility and physical dexterity of the user. I have found that most young people, free of injury, arthritis, or stiffness of the joints, can usually move to the fourth and maximum stretching position without overstretching or substantial discomfort. Many individuals, especially older people with stiffness of the joints or the like, find it too uncomfortable and virtually impossible to move to the maximum fourth position which is accomplished by moving the hands while still clench-fisted around the hand grips to a completely outreaching position whereby the user's hands, wrists and lower forearm extremities as an interconnected anatomical unit, have axially rotated a total of approximately 360° from their starting position, and whereby the palms are again facing upwardly and with the thumbs still position to the outer sides of the clenched fists as in the starting position.

[0026] Once the user has reached either minimum or maximum stretching position, it is recommended that he hold this position for several seconds and then move in reverse, still clutching the tool back to starting position.

[0027] The thorough stretching of the hand, wrist and forearm muscles and tendons in particular can be demonstrated to anyone merely by performing the exercise itself to the point where he or she reaches either minimum or maximum stretching positions as above defined. Like any stretching exercise, a user should stop if he experiences any discomfort. Otherwise, after completing a single exercise to the extent that it is comfortable, it is recommended that the cycle be repeated a few more times for a few minutes at selected intervals of every hour or two throughout the time when the user is otherwise engaged in repetitive wrist motion.

[0028] Although this invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example, it is understood that the scope of the invention is limited only by the claims appended hereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for stretching muscle, tendons and ligaments in the regions of a user's hands, wrists, arms, shoulders and upper neck comprising the steps: extending frontally outwardly to a starting position, both arms of the users with the palms of said hands facing upwardly; providing an elongate rod having a length exceeding two hand widths of the user; a pair of hand grips located adjacent opposite ends of said rod in spaced apart position from one another; positioning the hand grips of said rod in the upwardly extending palms of the user when the user's arms are in said starting position; closing the fingers of both hands around said hand grips in a substantially closed fisted manual grip; folding the elbows toward and close to the upper body to cause the hands, while gripping said rod, to move close to the user's upper body at near shoulder level; causing the hands to move inwardly toward and downwardly in front of the body by moving the elbows upwardly above hand level and moving the forearms inwardly and downwardly; continuing to move the hands downwardly below the horizontal plane of the elbows while maintaining a close-fisted grip on said rod to at least a minimum stretching position where the user can physically sense the physical stretching of his muscles and tendons in the regions of his hands, wrists, and forearms.
 2. The method according to claim 1 and wherein movement of the hands gripping the rod is continued toward a maximum stretching position by the user moving his clasped hands around the rod grips frontally outwardly to a completely outreaching position whereby said user's hands and wrists as an interconnected anatomical unit have axially rotated a total of approximately 360° from their starting position.
 3. A method according to claim 1 and wherein the hand grip portions are located in spaced relation on the rod and are formed of a relatively non-slippery surface material so that during the exercise the said rod and grips will not axially rotate in the hands of the user while the fists are in clenched position.
 4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the said spaced grips are formed of a relatively cushiony, non-slippery material.
 5. An exerciser device adapted to be gripped in clenched fisted fashion by both hands of a user performing an exercise to stretch muscles and tendons in the hands and wrists of a user comprising: an elongate rod having a length at least slightly exceeding the estimated width of both hands of a user while manually gripping said rod adjacent opposite ends thereof in clenched fisted position; first and second manual gripping surfaces mounted on said rod adjacent its opposite ends; the length of each gripping surface being large enough to accommodate all four fingers and the thumb of a user's hand while gripping in clenched fisted position an associated grip surface; the diameter of each said gripping surfaces being co-equal and of a size to enable a user to comfortably and non-rotatably hand grip an associated surface in clenched fisted position.
 6. The combination of claim 5 and wherein each of said first and second gripping surfaces comprises a tube of relatively soft hand grip material; each said tube mounted on and circumferentially encompassing opposite ends of said rod.
 7. The combination of claim 6 and wherein the outer gripping surface of each tube is formed of a soft, cushiony foam plastic material. 